Published: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 9:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 9:48 p.m.

Just like everyone else, I heard all the talk after last Thursday's game about how Jadeveon Clowney is out of shape, underperformed and is possibly already out of the Heisman race.

Earlier this week, I watched the game on DVR and studied Clowney on every play he was in.

Did Clowney appear winded at times? Yes. Was he in the backfield on almost every play he was in? Yes, he was.

Clowney did not record a sack against North Carolina, but he still made his presence known. He was constantly double-teamed, but he fought through them to push into the backfield on numerous occasions.

During a stretch in the first quarter, Clowney was chasing UNC quarterback Bryn Renner on a bootleg and watched as the senior short-hopped a throw to his receiver. On the very next play, Clowney split the right guard and right tackle as Renner frantically rolled to his left trying to get away. Renner ended up hitting his receiver for a short gain just before Clowney arrived.

Clowney was credited with three hurries in the game, more than the rest of his teammates combined. That number is especially impressive when you consider that UNC's offense is designed for its quarterback to get the ball out quickly.

Renner was not throwing play-action bombs 40 yards down field. His longest completion of the day went for just 24 yards.

Renner completed 26 passes Thursday night, but with all of the short completions still did not reach 200 yards passing.

With that said, Clowney was tired. Of course, most of his teammates were as well. It was hot in Columbia, one of the hottest days of the summer, and North Carolina was not just throwing short passes, it was continuously snapping the ball almost as soon as it was spotted.

“I don't think it was just Clowney. I think the entire defense got winded,” USC defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said. “I don't think that we'll play another team that can go as fast.”

Carolina defensive end Chaz Sutton defended his teammate during a news conference on Tuesday. Sutton agreed with Ward, stating that the entire defense was worn down.

“I can't really point him out personally because a lot of guys on defense were tired,” Sutton said. “I was tired. It was just a thing where we all had to push through it mentally.”

The senior added that all of the attention showered upon Clowney in the offseason caused everyone to single him out.

“He's a public figure and the media just pointed him out, but there were a lot of guys with hands on their hips, bending over at the knees, just tired,” Sutton said. “We were just gassed. The type of offense they run is designed to get the defensive line and the guys up front tired.”

For all of the talk about how tired Clowney and the South Carolina defense looked, it still held the UNC offense in check.

The 10 points scored by North Carolina and the 293 total yards by the Tar Heels were the fewest since UNC was shutout at N.C. State in 2011, which was before current head coach Larry Fedora arrived in Chapel Hill.

“You see that total yards they had?” Clowney said. “They had put up four or five hundred every game and we held them to half of that. Hats off to my defense. Even though we were tired we still came out there and did our job. As long as we get the win that's all that matters to me.”

The Tar Heels averaged 486 yards per game in 2012, including a 570-yard performance against N.C. State. UNC did not have fewer than 400 yards in any game last year, with the low point being 410 against Louisville.

During a game last season against East Carolina, which runs a similar offense as UNC, Clowney recorded two tackles and had two quarterback hurries. Unlike last Thursday's contest, there was no media backlash then.

“I think Jadeveon learned that the camera is on him every play,” USC head coach Steve Spurrier said earlier this week.

Sutton added Tuesday that Clowney has heard talk that he took plays off and is out of shape and he wants to prove everyone wrong on Saturday, when South Carolina visits Georgia.

“I think it's got him fired up,” Sutton said. “He's the type of guy that he's always up for a challenge, whatever it is. I think he's going to come out firing on all cylinders and just try to have a great game on Saturday.”

<p>Just like everyone else, I heard all the talk after last Thursday's game about how Jadeveon Clowney is out of shape, underperformed and is possibly already out of the Heisman race.</p><p>Earlier this week, I watched the game on DVR and studied Clowney on every play he was in.</p><p>Did Clowney appear winded at times? Yes. Was he in the backfield on almost every play he was in? Yes, he was.</p><p>Clowney did not record a sack against North Carolina, but he still made his presence known. He was constantly double-teamed, but he fought through them to push into the backfield on numerous occasions.</p><p>During a stretch in the first quarter, Clowney was chasing UNC quarterback Bryn Renner on a bootleg and watched as the senior short-hopped a throw to his receiver. On the very next play, Clowney split the right guard and right tackle as Renner frantically rolled to his left trying to get away. Renner ended up hitting his receiver for a short gain just before Clowney arrived.</p><p>Clowney was credited with three hurries in the game, more than the rest of his teammates combined. That number is especially impressive when you consider that UNC's offense is designed for its quarterback to get the ball out quickly.</p><p>Renner was not throwing play-action bombs 40 yards down field. His longest completion of the day went for just 24 yards.</p><p>Renner completed 26 passes Thursday night, but with all of the short completions still did not reach 200 yards passing.</p><p>With that said, Clowney was tired. Of course, most of his teammates were as well. It was hot in Columbia, one of the hottest days of the summer, and North Carolina was not just throwing short passes, it was continuously snapping the ball almost as soon as it was spotted.</p><p>“I don't think it was just Clowney. I think the entire defense got winded,” USC defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said. “I don't think that we'll play another team that can go as fast.”</p><p>Carolina defensive end Chaz Sutton defended his teammate during a news conference on Tuesday. Sutton agreed with Ward, stating that the entire defense was worn down.</p><p>“I can't really point him out personally because a lot of guys on defense were tired,” Sutton said. “I was tired. It was just a thing where we all had to push through it mentally.”</p><p>The senior added that all of the attention showered upon Clowney in the offseason caused everyone to single him out.</p><p>“He's a public figure and the media just pointed him out, but there were a lot of guys with hands on their hips, bending over at the knees, just tired,” Sutton said. “We were just gassed. The type of offense they run is designed to get the defensive line and the guys up front tired.”</p><p>For all of the talk about how tired Clowney and the South Carolina defense looked, it still held the UNC offense in check.</p><p>The 10 points scored by North Carolina and the 293 total yards by the Tar Heels were the fewest since UNC was shutout at N.C. State in 2011, which was before current head coach Larry Fedora arrived in Chapel Hill.</p><p>“You see that total yards they had?” Clowney said. “They had put up four or five hundred every game and we held them to half of that. Hats off to my defense. Even though we were tired we still came out there and did our job. As long as we get the win that's all that matters to me.”</p><p>The Tar Heels averaged 486 yards per game in 2012, including a 570-yard performance against N.C. State. UNC did not have fewer than 400 yards in any game last year, with the low point being 410 against Louisville.</p><p>During a game last season against East Carolina, which runs a similar offense as UNC, Clowney recorded two tackles and had two quarterback hurries. Unlike last Thursday's contest, there was no media backlash then.</p><p>“I think Jadeveon learned that the camera is on him every play,” USC head coach Steve Spurrier said earlier this week.</p><p>Sutton added Tuesday that Clowney has heard talk that he took plays off and is out of shape and he wants to prove everyone wrong on Saturday, when South Carolina visits Georgia.</p><p>“I think it's got him fired up,” Sutton said. “He's the type of guy that he's always up for a challenge, whatever it is. I think he's going to come out firing on all cylinders and just try to have a great game on Saturday.”</p>